Program in Microbial Immunology

The Program in Microbial Immunology focuses special attention on developing research expertise in pandemic-relevant viral immunology while building on the University of Minnesota’s existing strengths in the field.

Program Goals:

  • Develop research expertise in pandemic-relevant microbial immunology while building on the University of Minnesota’s existing strengths in immunology
  • Develop research programs that are able to quickly characterize immune responses to emerging pathogens, develop animal models of disease and perform mechanistic studies that define correlates of infection control and protection from reinfection. Contribute to vaccine development related research

Recent Development: Work to Improve COVID-19 Vaccines

In a collaborative effort across the Medical School’s Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Immunology, researchers demonstrated  evidence to better inform vaccination efforts for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. 

Specifically, they demonstrated a rationale for including additional viral Ags in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, which broadens effective immune response to emerging variants.

Molecular Immunology UMIID

 

Image credit: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2100421